And now, an early holiday for art lovers

MELANIE VANDERVEER

Friday

Nov 25, 2011 at 12:01 AM

The seventh annual Skytop Holiday Arts Festival is taking place this weekend, offering plenty of unique holiday shopping options. With more than 50 artists exhibiting and selling their artwork, there's something for every art lover under one roof.

The seventh annual Skytop Holiday Arts Festival is taking place this weekend, offering plenty of unique holiday shopping options. With more than 50 artists exhibiting and selling their artwork, there's something for every art lover under one roof.

"There will be furniture, watercolors, jewelry, photography, pottery, fiber art, glass, woodturners, fine arts, painters and more," said Catherine Schratt, co-coordinator. "It's a great alternative to Black Friday shopping. There's never any admission fee, and it's a great atmosphere to begin your shopping. It's totally unlike going to a store."

The event began more than seven years ago, but has only been at Skytop for the past seven years.

"We decided to make it into an annual Thanksgiving show in the conference center," Schratt said. "It has grown, and has been very successful. The people that come come for a purpose. Our local following has grown."

Pia Somerlock of Effort will show and sell her work at the festival for the third year. She creates functional and art pieces of pottery.

"I've been doing pottery for 11 years. I make tea sets, bowls, mugs, cups, plates, jewelry, Christmas ornaments and anything else you can imagine," Somerlock said. "A lot of my pieces have a sculpture on it. I want something unique on each piece. I add a decoration to each one."

Somerlock donates a portion of her sales to Pocono Mountain Arts Council because, she said, "We need art."

Her pieces range in price from $5 to $100. "I have something in every price range, so everyone can afford something," she said.

Nancy Pitcher of Long Pond is co-coordinator of the event as well as an exhibitor.

"I do watercolors and oils; a lot of wildlife and landscape. I also do still life and anything that comes along," she said. "I started doing decorative painting many years ago and after retirement starting painting more and got really interested in it."

Pitcher said this event is always well attended thanks to locals and visitors alike.

"People that come to Skytop for that weekend make sure the show is happening. They've been getting calls about what weekend the show will be," Pitcher said. "It's a big shopping weekend, and a lot of people buy gifts. The quality of the artwork is what makes it a significant show for Skytop."

Rich Genova of Canadensis is a landscape photographer. He's been a part of this show for the past four years.

"I do landscape photography and, up until recently, I've been running around with a 4-by-5 camera all over the United States. I try to hit wildness areas," he said. "The detail is what people will notice. I use an old box camera, and I'll have a few things with a digital camera. The box camera gives you a lot of detail."

Genova will offer photos in sizes from 8-by-10 and up. Some are local scenery, while others are Western scenery.

There will be a few new exhibitors this year and some artwork from students.

"The Pocono Homeschoolers Association will have various pieces in all mediums," Schratt said. "Evergreen School, a charter school in Cresco, will have pieces as well as their instructor, Sandy Carter. She'll be showing her watercolors."

The Emerging Artists this year are Janice and Elizabeth Negvesky of Pocono Manor. They are age 9 and 11, and they work in various mediums.

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